MIAMI, Fla. - Bryce Fitzgerald’s night against Florida State ended with the biggest play of Miami’s 43-35 double-overtime win, but the sophomore defensive back had already spent most of the game showing what kind of sacrifice he was willing to make for the Hurricanes.
On the opening play, Fitzgerald went after sophomore wide receiver Jayvan Broogs and appeared to injure his right shoulder in the tackle. He headed to the locker room to get checked out.
He eventually found his way back into the spotlight in double overtime, when Florida State was trying to answer Miami’s touchdown and successful two-point conversion. Ashton Daniels originally connected with junior wide receiver Micahi Danzy on a 36-yard score, but the play came back because of a holding penalty.
That gave the Seminoles another shot. On fourth-and-31 at the Hurricanes’ 46-yard line, Daniels had little choice but to launch a Hail Mary toward senior wide receiver Duce Robinson, a 6-6, 230-pound target. Fitzgerald, listed as a cornerback/safety, got underneath the moment and rose over Robinson to intercept the ball and seal the win.
The play fit the kind of season Fitzgerald has had so far. Miami’s secondary has been shuffled because of injuries, and defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman has had to keep moving pieces around. Fitzgerald has been part of that adjustment, shifting from safety to cornerback and handling the role despite the strain on the defensive backfield.
Even with the shoulder issue from the first series, he stayed in the fight and delivered when Miami needed it most. The Hurricanes don’t have another bye week to give players extra recovery time, and Fitzgerald’s night stood out as an example of putting the team first.
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